SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Springfield Thunderbirds (25-14-5-1) hit the road on Saturday and Sunday for a pair of games in Pennsylvania this weekend. They visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (19-21-2-3) on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza before a tangle with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (17-18-6-2) at the PPL Center on Sunday at 3:05 p.m.

The Thunderbirds enter the weekend riding a three-game win streak following triumphs over Utica, Hartford, and Providence over the last week of game action. Springfield outscored their opponents 12-5 in those contests. Matthew Peca has climbed into the top-10 in AHL scoring with 40 points (17g, 23a) over his first 39 games as a Thunderbird, including a pair of tallies in Saturday's 5-1 Ice-O-Topes Night victory over Providence. Peca is one of three Thunderbirds players, along with Nathan Walker and Sam Anas, who have tallied 35 or more points to this point in Springfield's season.

James Neal's arrival to the Thunderbirds has been met with instant dividends, as the veteran winger tallied two goals in Friday's 4-2 win in Hartford before adding a helper on Saturday against Providence.

Further bolstering the Thunderbirds offense, the St. Louis Blues announced earlier this week that Scott Perunovich would join the team on a conditioning assignment. The rookie blueliner has yet to be kept off the scoresheet in his first 12 AHL games, tallying two goals and 18 assists for Springfield. Perunovich last played on Jan. 15 with St. Louis before missing the last month due to injury. He will travel with the Thunderbirds to Pennsylvania this weekend.

After the two-game stopover in Pennsylvania, the T-Birds return home for a trio of home games on Feb. 23, Feb. 25, and Feb. 26 against the Islanders, Wolf Pack, and Checkers respectively. 

For more information on the Springfield Thunderbirds and to learn more about becoming a 2022-23 ticket member, please visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com or call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) to speak to a Thunderbirds representative.